Telematics smart pinging systems and methods

Abstract

Monitoring systems and methods are configured to determine a pattern of vehicle usage or to verify personal data about a vehicle insurance applicant, without unreasonable expense to an insurance provider or the applicant. A monitoring system can track movements of a handheld mobile communication device, and can include a personal data unit, a communication unit, and an analysis unit. The personal data unit can receive personal data about the insurance applicant, including an identifier of a mobile communication device used by the insurance applicant. The communication unit can receive location data describing various locations of the mobile communication device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 requesting location data describing a plurality of locations of a mobile communication device associated with an entity;   receiving the requested location data;   determining, with a computer processor, a pattern of vehicle usage for the entity, based at least partially on the location data; and   determining whether the mobile communication device is located in an automobile at each of a plurality of distinct times, based at least partially on the location data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device is a handheld mobile communication device comprising a processor configured to execute consumer-selected applications. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device comprises a handheld telephonic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device is configured to transmit the location data absent an electronic connection to a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a risk algorithm to the location data to assess an insurance risk of the entity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising estimating a distance driven by the entity, based on the location data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a time of day at which the entity is in a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a mode of transportation of the mobile communication device, based at least partially on the location data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an approximate velocity of the mobile communication device, based at least partially on the location data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a pattern of vehicle usage comprises determining a garaging location of a motor vehicle associated with the entity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a pattern of vehicle usage comprises categorizing the entity based on times of day traveled. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting a request for location data comprises requesting historical data from a data center located remotely from the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting a request for location data comprises repeatedly pinging the mobile communication device, and wherein receiving the requested location data comprises receiving a current location of the handheld mobile telephonic device in response to each ping. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising pinging the handheld mobile telephonic device at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined intervals are shifted after a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined intervals are adjusted based on the location data previously received. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising categorizing the entity into one or more of a set of risk categories, based on the location data. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 pinging a mobile communication device on a plurality of occasions, the mobile communication device being associated with an entity;   receiving, in response to each ping, a current location of the mobile communication device;   collecting into a set of location data the current locations of the mobile communication device received in responses to the pings;   approximating past movements of the mobile communication device based at least partially on the location data; and   determining an approximate pattern of vehicle usage for the entity based at least partially on the past movements of the mobile communication device represented by the location data, wherein determining an approximate pattern of vehicle usage comprises determining when the mobile communication device is located in an automobile based at least partially on the location data.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving from a data center historical data about movements of the mobile communication device; and   including the historical data in the location data before approximating past movements of the mobile communication device based at least partially on the location data.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a personal data unit configured to receive personal data about an entity, the personal data comprising contact information for a mobile communication device associated with the entity;   a communication unit configured to periodically receive location data from the mobile communication device describing an updated location of the mobile communication device, and to associate the location data with the entity; and   a computer processor configured to execute instructions to determine whether the mobile communication device is located in a vehicle at a plurality of data points in the location data, based at least partially on movements of the mobile communication device determined by the location data.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to execute instructions to compare the personal data to the location data to verify the personal data. 
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving from a data center historical data describing past locations of a mobile communication device associated with an entity;   determining past movements of the mobile communication device based at least partially on analyzing the historical data; and   determining, with a computer processor, an approximate pattern of vehicle usage based on the movements of the mobile communication device, comprising determining at least a garaging location of a vehicle associated with the entity based on the movements of the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising receiving periodically from the mobile communication device periodic data describing current locations of the mobile communication device, wherein determining past movements of the mobile communication device further comprises analyzing the periodic data.